قُل لِلنَّجيبِ صَرَمتَ حَبلَ مَوَدَّتي

قُل لِلنَّجيبِ صَرَمتَ حَبلَ مَوَدَّتي

مَلَلاً وَقَلبي في وَلائِكَ مُخلِصُ

مَلَلاً وَقَلبي في وَلائِكَ مُخلِصُ

Tell al-Najib: You severed the cord of my affection

Say to the noble one, you have severed the cord of my affection

out of boredom, though my heart is sincere in its devotion to you.

Though weary, my heart in your loyalty remains sincere

أَغَضِبتَ حينَ جَعَلتُ شَعرَكَ مُذهَباً

أَغَضِبتَ حينَ جَعَلتُ شَعرَكَ مُذهَباً

وَكَذبتُ فَهوَ كَما عَلِمتَ مُرَصَّصُ

وَكَذبتُ فَهوَ كَما عَلِمتَ مُرَصَّصُ

Were you angered when I called your verse gilded?

You took offense when I made your hair the object of my verse

And I lied, for it is, as you know, coated in lead.

And I lied, so it is, as you know, embellished